By Tamara Quader, Head of Learning Design
Almost everything about how we work today differs from just a few years ago. Intersecting global crises have profoundly changed how people live, prompting many employees to reassess their careers and the expectations of their employer. This includes growth opportunities, compensation, flexibility, and benefits.
Training programs have become crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. However, clubs in the hospitality and leisure industry face unique challenges and training needs to be more than a tick-in-the-box exercise.
Unique challenges in clubs
Peter Saez, CEO of The Epping Club, highlighted industry challenges in an interview with Club Management: “Notably, many clubs, including our own, have been forced to contend with an ageing membership base, changes in the local landscape with vast recreational choices on offer, and a never-before-seen level of demand for the entertainment dollar.”
There are many unique challenges your club must adapt to:
- Regulatory changes: Staff need to be kept up-to-date on changes to regulations, in a timely manner, and monitored to ensure compliance.
- Increased competition: Clubs need to create and provide new experiences for club members, and make sure their staff are up to speed.
- Technology adoption: Clubs must adopt new technologies that improve customer service, member experiences and team management, and provide easy access to staff to complete the training to implement them.
- Multi-generational workforce: comes with a range of abilities, level of understanding and learning preferences. Catering to the differences can be challenging, as one size doesn’t fit all.
- Retention of future leaders: who require development and the right tools to succeed, as they take on new roles and progress within your club. This fosters their investment in their career path, with you.
Employee knowledge is key to overcoming these business challenges. It impacts the organisation’s success and bottom line. While long-term employees bring existing knowledge, continuous learning strengthens it.
It’s time to transform your training
It is clear that investing in effective staff development is an essential strategy. It boosts efficiency and service quality, helping clubs meet member expectations, stay ahead of the competition, and continuously improve. Empowered staff, who are equipped for today’s dynamic hospitality environment, lead to increased productivity, member satisfaction, and a sustainable club.
Traditionally, Australian clubs have relied on on-the-job training, mentoring, and classroom programs. While valuable, these methods have limitations. Rigid training schedules and locations hinder accessibility and delivery. Tracking progress and measuring outcomes is difficult, making ROI evaluation challenging.
Innovative training is the key to unlocking your club’s full potential. The days of relying solely on in-person workshops and outdated training manuals are over. Today’s clubs need agile, adaptable solutions that cater to the modern learner. That’s where online training comes in.
The benefits of online training include:
- Flexible and accessible: Staff can access training materials anytime, anywhere, on any device. This means no more scheduling conflicts or missed sessions due to location constraints. Whether they’re on a break, commuting, or at home, learning is always at their fingertips.
- Enhanced engagement and knowledge retention: Interactive modules, videos, quizzes, and gamification elements keep learners engaged and motivated. Bite-sized content is easier to digest and retain, ensuring that the knowledge sticks.
- Learning pathways: Personalised learning for their role and career growth, accessible anytime at a pace that suits the learner. This allows staff to access and focus on areas that are compulsory for their role and also where they need the most development.
- Measurable results and ROI: Track progress, identify knowledge gaps, and evaluate the effectiveness of training programs with built-in analytics and reporting tools. This empowers you to make data-driven decisions and demonstrate the value of your training investment.
The power of blended learning
While online training offers unparalleled flexibility and convenience, don’t discount the value of in-person interactions. Combining eLearning modules with occasional workshops or team-building activities creates a powerful blended learning experience that fosters collaboration and reinforces key concepts.
By understanding your staff’s needs, designing effective training programs, and leveraging digital tools, you can cultivate a highly skilled workforce capable of delivering exceptional member experiences. Remember, training is not an expense, it is an investment; in your team, in your members and in the future success of your club.
The club industry needs innovative, comprehensive and engaging staff training programs delivered in the best way to address the challenges they face and create a competitive advantage.
Does your staff training need a refresh, and not sure where to start?
Allara Global’s new guide, “Transform your training: A step-by-step guide for clubs,” offers practical solutions to enhance your training approach. Discover how to design effective strategies, adapt to your club’s unique needs, and measure the impact of your training. Download the guide now to unlock your staff and club’s full potential.